Poetic Therapy. How Do You Describe Your Ptsd?

[markymark]

Meadowsweet, it took me a very long time to realize that I had a gift for words. I think everyone does if they put themselves into that place we believe no one can harm us. I encourage you to try. I am encouraged by words that help express this doom so I'm able to find other words to battle it. It seems to be my only weapon. Please try!

 

[markymark]

Selfish tumor that draws life to itself and sacrifices the whole body.

Love the selfish tumor part

<Edited - merged 2 posts and corrected quote.>

 

[Meadowsweet]

. I encourage you to try. I am encouraged by words that help express this doom so I'm able to find other words to battle it. It seems to be my only weapon. Please try!

This is the kind of stuff I write. I didn't know I had ptsd when I wrote these, but I wrote them to try and put into words what I was experiencing. I think this is what I meant about writing about experiences of ptsd symptoms, rather than writing directly about ptsd.


My Reality

Reality sticks
like words of amalgamating phlegm
hardening within
my ever tightening throat
to speak I must surely choke.



The open Heart

Do you think me strong?
if you could see
the shaking
that plagues me
when you put the reciever down.
the blurring vision
a feeling of tilting inside.
I dont know why you want to hurt,
but I want to run and hide.

 

[markymark]

"to speak I surly must choke" so true.

 

[wdkywomys]

PTSD is often dark and morbid, there's nothing positive about it, of course please post.

I agree with this statement. PTSD is often dark and morbid, there's nothing positive about it.

 

[markymark]

Someone actually said those words to me; afterward I wrote this poem. I shared it with one other group before, but think it was the wrong audience; they didn't understand. You all will. It is just a simple rhyming ode to feeling worthless. It isn't from my dark & morbid folder; I decided this one was easier to post.

Yes, this is the right audience. Thank you so much for sharing. Metaphors are such powerful ways to express feelings, even those who family and friends who provide support are unable to appreciate the suffering we experience. But poems can give them a glimpse. When you support system better understands, you too are better able to understand.

<Corrected quote>

 

[Red Feather]

Geez, it's hard for me to share this...

--

Yesterday my heart could smile
because I found a weapon.
I found a weapon to fight this
strange being I know.
But it is my friend I said. It is my
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
It is the evil in the hearts of men.
No, it is my friend, I said.
The weapon is to write, I said.
I can write it down, I said.
Because nobody else can get
in-between: me and my words.
Nobody else can get
to that place. Nobody else could
ever
smuggle themselves in there,
in-between: me and my words.
in-between: me and my words,
I am. I said.
Except me, she said.
I can do it.
She is my friend.
I said. Geez, I can smile.
No she said, be careful.
Are you sure you want to smile?
They'll take advantage of your smile.
But you are my friend, I said.
He will want to see it.
But she is my friend, I said
Now get happy for me!

He want's you to feel better.
He wants you to make him feel better!
The clinging form rises up above you.
It compresses itself close.
It says, I am your friend.
Was it you all along?

Just do it. Do it for all of us.

If not what would happen.
What would you do?

I can't remember.

There is a place I know
Where the waves rise above me
And I can float away.
My friend is always with me.
But if I look hard enough
I just see the sunlight
While my body floats away.

Is everything going to be alright?
She said, just write.
She said.
She will never give up.
They think she should.
But I won't.
 Think positively.

But you are victimising yourself.

Yesterday I found this weapon,
And gave it to my friend.
She wrote this poem,
For me.

 

[rainy_daze]

I think that's a great poem Nadia, it really spoke to me.

I said. Geez, I can smile.
No she said, be careful.
Are you sure you want to smile?
They'll take advantage of your smile.
But you are my friend, I said.
He will want to see it.
But she is my friend, I said
Now get happy for me!